A new home for Scotbeef at Thainstone Business Park

18/08/2016

ANM Group, one of Scotland’s largest producer-owned farming, food and finance businesses, has announced that Scotbeef Inverurie is set to relocate its abattoir to Thainstone Business Park if the proposed extension goes ahead.

A new multi-million-pound purpose-built abattoir will give the benefit of production efficiencies, latest environmental waste treatment, and transport synergies, which will underpin the future of Scotbeef Inverurie and meat processing in the North East of Scotland.

Relocating to Thainstone from its current site at North Street in Inverurie reduces livestock transport that will no longer need to travel through the town centre and many deliveries to the new facility would be combined with collections from the mart, reducing environmental impact on the area.

The existing Scotbeef site will also provide an opportunity for further investment in Inverurie, as outline planning permission for housing has been secured.

JR Galloway, Group Chief Executive, Scotbeef, commented: “Scotbeef has always had a plan and need to relocate to a new purpose-built facility at Thainstone; once it had established a period of financial and operational stability required to justify the sizable capital investment.

“Our current facility at North Street needs significant development in order to comply with increasingly stringent regulation and customer requirements. To do this where we are would be a challenge as the property is landlocked making expansion impossible, and the near proximity of residential and educational premises would likely result in strong local opposition.

“Securing the future for Scotbeef Inverurie is dependent upon the successful approval of the development plans at Thainstone.”

ANM Group is taking steps to ensure that the proposed business park will be extended sympathetically in line with the current landscape by working collaboratively with its current tenants, the local community, and relevant authorities. The new abattoir would be located at the rear of the proposed business park with easy access to and from the A96.

Pat Machray, ANM Group chairman, commented: “The establishment of a modern abattoir will be an important creation in the development of a real agricultural hub at Thainstone, with all facilities sharing the same site for the first time.

“We have already seen significant interest in the abattoir from a leading supermarket, which is keen to use the facility as its local supplier of choice. As you can imagine, this is fantastic news for everyone, and we hope to see further business coming through in the next few months.”

As part of the move, ANM Group will retain a 25% share in Scotbeef as it continues to contribute to the North-east meat processing industry.

Over the last 26 years, ANM Group as a co-operative has significantly contributed to Scotland’s finances – a total of £4 billion – and the extended facilities will not only boost the local and national economy but also greatly benefit the Thainstone hub, the local business community, and Inverurie town.

Pending approval, work on the extension of Thainstone Business Park is due to commence later this year with the first building due for completion in early 2018.